The archive is either in unknown format or damaged

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
D

DionTheGreek

Honorable
Jun 1, 2012
95
0
10,630
Accidentally I deleted my rar archives. Using the program getdata recover my files, I was able to get the files back on my drive. When I try to open them, I receive that error. What should I do? I try many rar recover programs but nothing seems to work.

I have to mention that the archive was password protected and video files where contained into it.
When I look at the size of the archive is correct but I cannot open it.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
getochkn

getochkn

Polypheme
Jul 2, 2006
12,407
54
65,040
then the data was overwritten. recovery programs just look for the pointer in the deleted file table to see where the file was. it was say it was at sectors 2,9,86,443,4467,32226 as it's scattered across the hard drive. if you did anything, even open a webpage and it downloads an image and the pc puts that image at 443,888,9999 as it finds empty sectors, and because you deleted the file, it thinks 443 is empty, so it reuses it. Now the recovery program tries to recover 2,9,86,443,4467,32226 and it pulls part of the picture into the archive.


Point is, data recovery is only good if the drive isn't used at all after something was deleted. This includes even web browsing, playing a game, whatever. Recover as soon as it's deleted. Even an hour later, those sectors can be overwritten.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

DionTheGreek

Honorable
Jun 1, 2012
95
0
10,630
i cant take that as an answer. Is got to be a way because I was able to recover other files from that same drive. it is just the archives that dont open (especially those with .mov inside). Other types are open fine.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

DionTheGreek

Honorable
Jun 1, 2012
95
0
10,630
All I am saying is that it will be nice to hear someone giving me some instruction to try something instead telling me that is not working. I am working with computers for the last 30 years but I am not expert on data recovery.

Regardless I appreciate your responses and thank you.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
getochkn

getochkn

Polypheme
Jul 2, 2006
12,407
54
65,040
Don't know what else to tell you, if the recovery programs are recovering a file that isn't actually readable, it's because the data was overwritten. Maybe it's just the header. If you want to dive in hex work, open the file with a hex editor and see if the header matches a proper RAR file header.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

DionTheGreek

Honorable
Jun 1, 2012
95
0
10,630
I download a hex editor but dont know what I am looking. Everything look Chinese (or Greek if you prefer).

I am not loosing my hope because somehow I'll be able to recover these files.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
D

DionTheGreek

Honorable
Jun 1, 2012
95
0
10,630
Is anyone else interest to find a solution? or I have to take an easy cannot do by someone that doesn't want to help?
There is always a way to fix a technical problem and I am looking for an experienced troubleshooter.

btw, I am coming a little strong here but I want to share a quick story.

A while ago a friend of mine ask me to recover material from his drive that wasn't working properly. After long research, I found out that placing the drive in the freezer!!! and then after a while trying to read it, it will allow to be cool down and not overheat. That surprising solution allowed me to believe that sometimes, even extreme solutions can be apply to fix a problem.

So, how can I recover my movies from these archives? Is any way to open the archive piece by piece?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom